Thompson Falls’ High Bridge hits anniversary mark
A family from Marion begins its journey across the High Bridge in Thompson Falls Sunday, April 26. The High Bridge has attracted visitors from across the U.S. and foreign countries. (Scott Shindledecker/Valley Press)
The High Bridge in Thompson Falls is an attraction for locals and tourists. The refurbished structure will celebrate its 10th anniversary Friday, May 8. (Scott Shindledecker/Valley Press)
A bald eagle soars over the High Bridge in Thompson Falls recently. The area is a great place to see wildlife, such as eagles, waterfowl and deer. (Scott Shindledecker/Valley Press)
Northwest Montana is blessed with countless destinations and sights to see, but one of the more family friendly ones is the Historic High Bridge in Thompson Falls.
The High Bridge has spanned the Clark Fork River since 1911 and this Friday, the refurbished bridge will celebrate its 10th year since its reopning to the public.
It’s not unusual to see at least one person on the bridge during daylight hours. Dog walkers, bicyclists, families, sunbathers, anglers, and tourists, you name it, the High Bridge is very popular.
Wildlife viewing is also popular with deer, waterfowl, songbirds and bald eagles seen frequently.
According to waymarking.com, the bridge is 588 feet in length and 80 feet high. The deck width was 18 feet before it was rebuilt and 12 feet after.
For those whom don’t wish to drive across the river on south of town, they can park in the small lot at the end of South Gallatin Street and cross the bridge to get to Island Park. The other is to take the first left on to Highway 471, also known as Prospect Creek Road, after crossing the Clark Fork River on Montana 200.
It provides access to the dam and a fish ladder as well as trails that are widely used.
The Parker-Pratt deck truss bridge was first opened in 1911, built to aid in the construction of the Hydro Dam Project. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 as part of the Hydroelectric Dam Historic District.”
The bridge deteriorated over the years and was closed to vehicle traffic in 1979.
Thompson Falls resident Debra Galloway has lived in the Clark Fork River valley since the early 1970s when she and her husband arrived in Superior to work in the timber industry.
“He cut and I cooked food,” she recently recalled.
She has enjoyed the High Bridge for decades, but there was one somewhat harrowing moment.
“It was sometime in the ‘70s before it closed. My sister and I started to drive it across. I mentioned something about talk of them closing it because it was rotting and she just stopped the car there in the middle.
“This was when the siderails were falling apart and I told her ‘Let’s get moving and get off this thing,’” Galloway said with a laugh.
The High Bridge isn’t a scary place now with heavy duty planks and siderails about four feet high.
County officials and citizens began to work on fixing and reopening the bridge in the late 1990s.
The commissioners included Carol Brooker, Tony Cox and Gail Patton. The steering committee included Tim Harlan, Jean Polequaptewa, Tony Bankovich, Kate Walton, Dave Goree, Bob Fletcher, Carla Parks and Kim Bergstrom.
Steel trusses had to be replaced as well as more than 7,100 square feet of wood bridge decking and nearly 1,200 lineal feet of bridge rail.
The cost was nearly $700,000 and the money came from county, state and federal sources. About $450,000 came from the Community Transportation Enhancement Program, money the county had accumulated through the years.
Federal funding followed the 2008 Recession through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Finally, on May 8, 2010, the efforts of many people came to fruition as the bridge was formall dedicated.
